Monthly Archives: January 2009

On Monday, the Assembly State Government Committee unanimously advanced a proposed bill that would indefinitely delay the deadline for the state to retrofit its voting machines so they can print out a paper receipt, which would be available for recounts … Continue reading →

(Note: Updated Tuesday to note that some bills were sent to second committees for additional hearings, rather than to the full Assembly.) More than 40 bills are up in 11 Assembly committees today. The morning meetings are over (including a … Continue reading →

Today was a busy one for the Legislature — 17 committee meetings between the Senate and Assembly. Below’s a glance at the action on the Senate side, where seven committee meetings were held, marking the first ones in six weeks. … Continue reading →

Computer parts scams. Kickbacks and embezzling from a union education fund. Stealing gas. Rerouting checks. Faking expense accounts. And good old-fashioned bribes. Just another week of allegations and guilty pleas on the corruption front here in New Jersey.

Today is the county convention at which Hunterdon and Warren county Republicans in the 23rd Legislative District will choose a replacement in the state Senate for newly minted Rep. Leonard Lance. Whichever of their Assembly members they choose, Michael Doherty … Continue reading →

A state law requiring health insurers — both private companies and state programs — to start paying for hearing aids for children 15 years and younger will be signed into law today. Again. Gov. Jon Corzine will hold a ceremonial … Continue reading →

Gov. Jon Corzine reported just $5,807.68 in donations to his re-election campaign last quarter, not counting the $90,000 he gave himself. That follows quarters in which he’d raised more than $112,000 (April through June) and $121,000 (July through September) from … Continue reading →

It’s now been exactly a week since U.S. Airways flight 1549 splash-landed in the Hudson River, its pilot and crew managing to help the passengers escape without any fatalities. For New Jerseyans, that miracle apparently set off a run to … Continue reading →

Gov. Jon Corzine donated $90,000 to his own re-election campaign in November and December — admittedly not big news for a guy who has spent more than $107 million of his own money bankrolling his U.S. Senate and gubernatorial campaigns … Continue reading →

New Jersey’s problems with its unemployment fund are mounting. A deluge of callers has rendered it nearly impossible to reach an employee for help. Temp workers are being training to deal with the volume. And the balance of the fund … Continue reading →

December employment statistics for New Jersey were announced today by the state Department of Labor & Workforce Development, and they aren’t pretty. Preliminary stats show the state lost 15,200 jobs last month. And the losses in November were revised upwards … Continue reading →

New Jersey in 2007 was tied with Hawaii for the 4th lowest share of the population with incomes below the poverty level, 8.5 percent, according to Census Bureau statistics issued last month. The only states with lower poverty rates were New … Continue reading →

About the Authors

Bob JordanBob Jordan has covered state, county and muncipal governments for the past 10 years. He has also covered the gaming industry and has been a sports team beat writer for NHL, NBA and major league baseball teams.E-mail Bob

John SchoonejongenJohn Schoonejongen is state editor for Gannett New Jersey newspapers. He has reported and edited at New Jersey newspapers from Salem County to Passaic County, writing about everything from state politics to lost pigs on the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Born in Camden County, he still speaks with a southern New Jersey accent, much to his wife's annoyance.E-mail John

Michael SymonsMichael Symons has covered seven governors while working in Gannett's Statehouse Bureau -- a stint which actually only stretches back to 2000, but the door revolves quickly in New Jersey politics. He's co-author of the biography "Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power."E-mail Michael